Phillips Out As Cowboys Coach

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Irving (105.3 The Fan) Jerry read a brief statement along the following lines:

“A decision has been made to move forward with Jason Garrett as interim head coach effective immediately. We’re grateful to Wade and his contributions to leading us to two division titles. We’re not where we want to be at this time. We all share responsibility in this, all of this. This is something I was reluctant to consider as late as this past week. I addressed the team, very brief, and pointed….this is not an admission of defeat or finality. We have eight remaining and the goal is the same in each one….we want players who want to win. Winning players and winning games will be the criteria moving forward.”

Jerry went on to say that this team is in “need of a culture change” and that he believes Garrett can bring that.
I will say this. If you are looking for fire and brimstone, you are not going to get that from Jason Garrett. He is a Princeton University graduate, very x’s and o’s. Now we will see whether there will actually be a different look to the offense. I doubt it. He was already calling the plays.

“There was alot of me in denial for at least the last couple of ball games, but where we are right now is that we have got to be able to do what everybody does in the NFL, which is get a defense that can slow them down.” said Owner/GM Jerry Jones

That job will now fall to defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni. He has most of his experience at the college level where he put in 29 years, including 14 years as head coach at Syracuse. He also had a stint with the Dolphins in 2008-09 before coming back to Dallas after a previous run here in 2005-07.

Jones went on to say that he is expecting extraordinary effort the final 8 games and that Garrett will be in position to extend his interim deal based on the “success” of the team moving forward. That is the wild card in the equation. How are we going to measure Jason’s success with a bad football team. Jerry kept coming back to effort, but “effort” has netted them all of a 1-7 record so far.

Wade Phillips was not at the press briefing. He was told this morning and the Cowboys moved forward on it at around 1:45 pm. Jason Garrett is expected to speak with the media shortly.

In a release from Wade Phillips:

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the fans of the Cowboys and to the entire Jones family for all of the support that we received here in Dallas. I would also like to thank our coaches and players for their loyalty and dedication.

“I told the team today that I have been proud to be a part of their family, and that will never change. I have enjoyed the privilege and responsibility of representing this franchise as its head coach.

“I am disappointed in the results of this season to this point, but I am also very proud of what our team and our players accomplished in the previous three years. In good times and difficult times, our players stuck together and never lost hold of their belief in each other and the strong team bond that they have shared. Family and coaching football have always defined my life and I will always be grateful for my experiences here with the Dallas Cowboys.”